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June 8, 2010

Myriad Genetics Suspends Its HIV Maturation Inhibitor Program

Myriad Genetics announced it is suspending its HIV drug development program and will focus instead on oncology drugs. The company says it is taking this step “for strategic, business reasons; and a reduction in workforce.”

Myriad had been developing a maturation inhibitor called bevirimat (MPC-4326, PA-457) since 2009, after purchasing the rights to the drug from Panacos Pharmaceuticals. Though bevirimat had particular challenges, in that people who had resistance to protease inhibitors were less likely to benefit from the drug, the company said it had at least one backup compound if bevirimat proved ineffective.

It is unclear whether Myriad will sell these compounds to another company for further development.

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